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Motor Authority - blog Tag: BMW M3

  • IND Distribution presents the first Dakar Yellow E92 M3 in North America

    IND Distribution presents the first Dakar Yellow E92 M3 in North America July 1st, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, July 1st, 2009 Nelson Ireson 3 Comments

    IND Distribution presents the first Dakar Yellow E92 M3 in North America Though it's often overshadowed by the fantastic E30, the E36 M3 has become a favorite of aficionados, and no color showed off that M3's pavement prowess as well as the brilliant Dakar Yellow. Now IND Distribution has taken that familiar color and laid it over the newest M3, and it's sure to stir a nostalgic feeling in every Bimmer-lover's hearts.

    But IND doesn't stop with the color. To ensure the new Dakar Yellow M3 - the first in North America - gets the respect it commands with its loud visual presence, IND added up-rated Brembo racing brakes, 18in HRE Monoblock racing wheels, a software upgrade from AA, a front, side and rear body kit,... Though it's often overshadowed by the fantastic E30, the E36 M3 has become a favorite of aficionados, and no color showed off that M3's pavement prowess as well as the brilliant Dakar Yellow. Now IND Distribution has taken that familiar color and laid it over the newest M3, and it's sure to stir a nostalgic feeling in every Bimmer-lover's hearts. But IND doesn't stop with the color. To ensure the new Dakar Yellow M3 - the first in North America - gets the respect it commands with its loud visual presence, IND added up-rated Brembo racing brakes, 18in HRE Monoblock racing wheels, a software upgrade from AA, a front, side and rear body kit, new mirror caps, and painted or tinted lights and reflectors. A custom exhaust by Eisenmann kicks up the audio accompaniment from the high-revving V8 under the hood. Pricing and availability of the IND Distribution E92 M3 with the E36 vibe haven't been released yet, but in the mean time you can check out the video below to hear the results of IND's exhaust tuning. Via: Autoblog.nlIND Distribution Dakar Yellow E92 M3IND Distribution Dakar Yellow E92 M3 with custom Eisenmann exhaust Read More

  • BMW M3 passes 200mph with G-Power supercharger

    BMW M3 passes 200mph with G-Power supercharger June 2nd, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, June 2nd, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 2 Comments

    BMW M3 passes 200mph with G-Power supercharger When it comes to BMW tuning, there is one company that stands head and shoulders above the rest in cranking out the ultimate driving machines. The company we are referring to German outfit G-Power, which has been in the business of creating the world's fastest BMWs for a quarter of a century, including the recently unveiled 228mph M6 Coupe. Now, G-Power has finally unveiled a new performance upgrade for the M3, and with some serious performance mods in place the new car promises to be even more sublime than the standard model on which it’s based.

    While a M3 bought from the dealership already has a fairly potent 420hp (312kW) under the... When it comes to BMW tuning, there is one company that stands head and shoulders above the rest in cranking out the ultimate driving machines. The company we are referring to German outfit G-Power, which has been in the business of creating the world's fastest BMWs for a quarter of a century, including the recently unveiled 228mph M6 Coupe. Now, G-Power has finally unveiled a new performance upgrade for the M3, and with some serious performance mods in place the new car promises to be even more sublime than the standard model on which it’s based. While a M3 bought from the dealership already has a fairly potent 420hp (312kW) under the hood, G-Power's engineers have taken the car into true supercar territory with a new supercharger system that raises the final power output to a heady 500hp (373kW). Using relatively soft charging of just 4.4psi (0.3bar) boost from the T1-518 ASA centrifugal supercharger (the same system used in certain Alpina models), G-Power claims that its M3 constantly provides around 20% more torque than the standard model. The sueprcharger system also uses a large volume air box, including eight lightweight integral resonance induction pipes, which are responsible for improved throttle response and creating an optimal torque curve. Finally, the supercharger system is completed by the large air-to-air intercooler that is located up front and cools the boost temperature down for added performance and reliability. The result of the new performance system gives the G-Power M3 a top speed in excess of 200mph, while the sprint to 124mph is dispensed within just 13.5 seconds - more than two seconds quicker than the stock M3. Custom wheels and Michelin sport tires help put the power down onto the road, along with a new continuously height-adjustable G-Power coil-over suspension system with nine settings to help the BMW more effectively use that extra power. Additionally, G-Power offers a new sports rear muffler to give the M3 a deeper roar, and also lighten the car's final weight by close to 15kg. Capping off the upgrades is a new interior, decked out in carbon-fiber panels, a custom G-Power speedo that goes up to 223mph, aluminum pedals and tailor made leather seats.G-Power Tornado based on the BMW M3 Read More

  • New company aims to make supercar clubs affordable

    New company aims to make supercar clubs affordable May 13th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, May 13th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 5 Comments

    New company aims to make supercar clubs affordable The idea of pooling resources to get access to a wide range of the most exotic four-wheeled machinery available isn't new, though it is still rather exclusive. Groups like P1 International in the UK and The Supercar Club in Australia have built the genre over the past few years, while newcomers like RS Academy have helped expand it.

    But now a new player has entered the field, and they're playing by a different set of rules. Gone are the tens of thousands of dollars in annual dues and per-use fees. Instead, Supercar Sensation brings a handful of supercars to a designated site, the drivers meet up and drive them around for 1-4 hours,... The idea of pooling resources to get access to a wide range of the most exotic four-wheeled machinery available isn't new, though it is still rather exclusive. Groups like P1 International in the UK and The Supercar Club in Australia have built the genre over the past few years, while newcomers like RS Academy have helped expand it. But now a new player has entered the field, and they're playing by a different set of rules. Gone are the tens of thousands of dollars in annual dues and per-use fees. Instead, Supercar Sensation brings a handful of supercars to a designated site, the drivers meet up and drive them around for 1-4 hours, depending on the package they buy, and drive up to three of the cars in a single day. All for a single flat fee. Starting at $199 for a 'one hour test drive' as the folks at Sensation call it, the driver gets a a shot behind the wheel of three supercars, one from each of the following groups: 1) Ferrari F430 or Lamborghini Gallardo; 2) Porsche 911 Turbo or Aston Martin Vantage Roadster; and 3) Nissan GT-R, BMW M3 or Mercedes C63 AMG. Also included in the package price is a set of digital photos of the driver with the car. The driving itself is a one-hour open-road 'lead-follow' trek on a pre-planned route. For more time behind the wheel, you can step up to the 'tour', which comes in two or four-hour variations, but is essentially just a longer version of the test drive scenario. For those that would like a bit more speed and sensation, the company also offers a 'track' package from $250. This includes one orientation lap plus eight runs on a closed autocross-style (pylons on pavement) course in the M3, C63 AMG GT-R or 911 Turbo, plus another three runs in a F430 or Gallardo. There are variations on this package starting as low as $40, which will get you one orientation lap and a single autocross run. All in all, it's a comprehensive set of offerings for a price that really can't be beat - especially when compared to the competition. P1, for example, charges an annual fee of £12,250 to £15,500 ($18,580 to $23500) plus a one-time joining fee of £2,450 ($3,700). By comparison, there's no competition at all. Of course, even P1 is still a bargain compared to ownership of even a single supercar. And the very best part: Supercar Sensation is based in North Carolina - so it won't require a passport and an overseas vacation to enjoy the experience. Read More

  • BMW to tackle Nurburgring 24-hour race with M3 GT4

    BMW to tackle Nurburgring 24-hour race with M3 GT4 April 9th, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, April 9th, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 1 Comment

    BMW to tackle Nurburgring 24-hour race with M3 GT4 BMW will be using next month’s Nurburgring 24 hour endurance challenge to continue testing its GT4-class M3 race car, which will take place over the weekend starting on the 23rd of May. Behind the wheel will be BMW works drivers Augusto Farfus, Jörg Müller, and Andy Priaulx, all of whom are normally involved in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). As a change, two journalists from German magazine ‘sport auto’ will also be spending some time behind the wheel on race weekend.

    Importantly, it is not BMW Motorsport that will fielding car but rather its Customer Racing program, together with Schubert Motorsport.

    The... BMW will be using next month’s Nurburgring 24 hour endurance challenge to continue testing its GT4-class M3 race car, which will take place over the weekend starting on the 23rd of May. Behind the wheel will be BMW works drivers Augusto Farfus, Jörg Müller, and Andy Priaulx, all of whom are normally involved in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). As a change, two journalists from German magazine ‘sport auto’ will also be spending some time behind the wheel on race weekend. Importantly, it is not BMW Motorsport that will fielding car but rather its Customer Racing program, together with Schubert Motorsport. The new BMW M3 GT4, the youngest addition to the Customer Racing product range, made its debut on the legendary Nordschleifecircuit at last weekend's 56th ADAC Westfalenfahrt. After four hours, the Schubert Motorsport-backed team was victorious in the SP10 class, and finished 30th overall. The Nordschleife at the Nurburgring has played a very special role in the history of BMW. Many of the carmaker’s drivers have enjoyed numerous successes there since the first 24-hour race was held in 1970. Last year alone, one third of the 150 cars that completed the race were BMW made. Furthermore, with 114 class victories, BMW is by far the most successful carmaker in the history of the event.BMW M3 GT4 race car Read More

  • Report: BMW’s M division moving to four and six-cylinder turbos

    Report: BMW’s M division moving to four and six-cylinder turbos March 19th, 2009 ByJames Martinez James Martinez, Author, March 19th, 2009 James Martinez 18 Comments

    Report: BMW’s M division moving to four and six-cylinder turbos BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer recently revealed plans to phase out diesel V8 engines across the board, but as drastic as this sounds it could be just the tip of the iceberg for the carmaker’s future plans to shakeup its powertrain lineup. BMW’s hallowed M division could also be affected by the new wave of environmental consciousness sweeping carmakers across the world, the end result being smaller engines and turbochargers in future performance models.

    Speaking with MotorTrend, high-ranking BMW sources, including M division CEO Ludwig Willisch, revealed that the 4.0L and 5.0L high-rev V8 and V10 engines in the current M lineup will... BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer recently revealed plans to phase out diesel V8 engines across the board, but as drastic as this sounds it could be just the tip of the iceberg for the carmaker’s future plans to shakeup its powertrain lineup. BMW’s hallowed M division could also be affected by the new wave of environmental consciousness sweeping carmakers across the world, the end result being smaller engines and turbochargers in future performance models. Speaking with MotorTrend, high-ranking BMW sources, including M division CEO Ludwig Willisch, revealed that the 4.0L and 5.0L high-rev V8 and V10 engines in the current M lineup will make way for forced-induction engines, possibly as early as next year. The first of these are likely to appear in the new M versions of the X5 and X6 SUVs, which have been spotted testing recently in both Germany and the United States. These performance SUVs, designed to challenge the Porsche Cayenne and Mercedes Benz ML63 AMG, will pick up a new twin-turbocharged 4.4L V8 delivering more power and torque than the current 5.0L V10 in the M5 and M6 line of cars. According to one source, output could be as high as 550hp (410kW) and 516lb-ft (700Nm) of torque – enough for 0-60mph times of less than five seconds and an electronically top speed of 155mph. As for the next-generation 3 and 1-series models, new performance M versions are due to hit the streets in the 2014 model year. While it’s still too early to confirm what powertrain options the cars will feature, a turbocharged six-cylinder is expected to appear in the M3, while a turbocharged four-cylinder with more than 300hp (225kW) will appear in the hotted up 1-series. Before their arrival, however, a new M5 and M6 is set to be launched. These are expected to feature more powerful versions of the twin-turbocharged V8 engine appearing in the X5 and X6 M models. In addition to turbocharging, BMW will add automatic engine stop-start and brake regeneration technologies to further reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Although purists may scoff at the idea of a turbocharged M3 or even M5, it’s a direction rival performance house AMG is planning to take as well, and with the current practice of one-upmanship amongst carmakers BMW may not have a choice.BMW X5 M Spy shots - AugustBMW M X6 spy shots Read More

  • BMW’s M division sets second-best sales year on record

    BMW’s M division sets second-best sales year on record February 2nd, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, February 2nd, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 5 Comments

    BMW’s M division sets second-best sales year on record BMW’s M division has tallied a record year of sales, topping 24,000 units between January and December 2008. Strong sales of the M3 and its new Cabrio and Sedan variants are the driving force behind the record feat, accounting for over 18,000 of the M-cars sold.

    In August of last year, BMW reported its performance arm had sold more cars in the first eight months of the year than all of 2007 combined, with a total of 16,150 M cars rolling out of showrooms between January and August versus last year’s total of 16,128 vehicles. The United States, despite its massive volume dropoff in new vehicle sales, still accounted for the... BMW’s M division has tallied a record year of sales, topping 24,000 units between January and December 2008. Strong sales of the M3 and its new Cabrio and Sedan variants are the driving force behind the record feat, accounting for over 18,000 of the M-cars sold. In August of last year, BMW reported its performance arm had sold more cars in the first eight months of the year than all of 2007 combined, with a total of 16,150 M cars rolling out of showrooms between January and August versus last year’s total of 16,128 vehicles. The United States, despite its massive volume dropoff in new vehicle sales, still accounted for the lion's share of all M-cars sold in 2008 with 10,663. The M3 is selling at twice the rate of the outgoing model, with the Coupe in particular finding a strong reception, selling 10,571 units in 2008. The Convertible, introduced in May of last year, sold 4,169 units and the Sedan accounted for the remaining 3,253 M3s sold in 2008. The M3 has long been a strong seller for BMW, including the E46 M3, which helped drive the M Division to its best sales year ever, with 26,776 sold in 2002. Another major source of revenue for the M-division is its M Sport line of performance packages for non-M BMW cars. Available on the 1, 3, 5 and 6 series plus the X3 and X5 SUVs, the M Sport package adds sportier looks and handling to the standard BMW package. Almost 100,000 1 and 3-series buyers opted for the add-on in 2008, with 58,000 3-series so equipped and 41,000 1-series buyers ticking the M Sport box as well. Those two accounted for the majority of the 156,139 M Sport packages sold globally in 2008. Since inception in 1978 BMW’s M division has sold more than 300,000 vehicles worldwide, and with more models and variations planned for the future it appears the performance offshoot is safe despite looming emissions and fuel-economy standards being introduced on both sides of the Atlantic. Click here to read our previous story about future vehicles planned by the M division.BMW M3 Sedan2008 BMW M3 Coupe and Cabrio Read More

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